Matt McCarthy | Iron Mountain Daily News Escanaba’s Brandon Frazer poses with his MVP trophy from the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame U.P. All-Star Classic Basketball Game Saturday in St. Ignace.

ST. IGNACE — A game-high 40 points from West Iron’s Justin Nelson and a 63-point barrage for the West in the second half wasn’t enough to overcome a double-digit halftime lead as the East All-Stars defeated the West All-Stars 103-96 in the 2021 boys Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame U.P. All-Star Classic Basketball Game, Saturday at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace.

East guard and Escanaba graduate Brandon Frazer scored 17 points and was named game MVP.

“It’s really exciting for me to win this award. There’s lots of good players here today, and several that weren’t able to play in the game and aren’t here,” Frazer told WLUC TV6’s Mike Ludlum.

The 35th annual event was originally canceled, like the 34th annual game was, due to COVID-19 and the logistics of having the game earlier than when it’s normally held.

With the game being organized and put on in 10 to 11 days, many players who were invited were unable to make the trip to the Eastern U.P. for varying reasons.

One, in particular, being reigning three-time U.P. Mr. Basketball Foster Wonders of Iron Mountain.

Wonders is already enrolled in summer classes at Southern Illinois University, where he received a full basketball scholarship, making him ineligible to play due to NCAA rules.

The game was played in a college atmosphere, as far as the game rules went, with two 20-minute halves and a 30-second shot clock. The East came out in full swing, playing like it truly was their last basketball game in their respective school’s home white uniforms. While the West, on the other hand, seemed to be in a much slower gear than their opponents, basically for the entire first half.

The feeling-out process in an all-star game caused some of the West’s lethargic play, with having to get used to playing with one another. The East had an easier time with that aspect of the game, with their coach — Marc Zawacki — and four of their eight players hailing from Bark River-Harris.

“Our boys kind of felt that they’d be overmatched today looking at their (West) team on paper. Our boys came out fired up and ready to play right away, and I think that reason had a lot to do with it,” said Zawacki. “The West didn’t quit even when we were up by over 30 points, and I think our guys kind of took our feet off the gas too soon.”

Zawacki was nominated for Class ABC coach of the year, as the Broncos had a 15-1 regular-season record. The Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters unanimously selected Harvey “Bucky” Johnson of Iron Mountain as ABC coach of the year.

There’s minimal defense and game planning in an all-star game, as many players shined right from the get-go.

“I had a lot of fun here today,” stated Nelson. “Winning the dunk contest and getting to play with Nathan (Thomson) one more time was fun too.”

MHSAA Division 3 U.P. golf champion Nathan Thomson also played on the West squad, scoring five points in the contest.

Logan DePew of Newberry drained a team-high 21 points for the East, followed by Trenton Wood-Keshick of BR-H with 19, while Joey Stein and Nick Javurek, both also of BR-H scored 16 and 13 points respectively.

For the West, boys 3-point shootout champion Ty Lotterman of Marquette poured in 19 points, while teammate Lincoln Sager chipped in 12.

Ian Gorzinski of North Central scored seven points alongside 2021 Skyline Central Conference player of the year Beau Koffman of Carney-Nadeau.

Koffman was runner-up to Lotterman in the 3-point shootout.

Lane Kortemeier of Bessemer was on the West roster and had accepted the offer to play in the game, but injured his ankle late last week and was unable to play. Bessemer head coach Richard Mattrella coached the West squad.

Mason Kudlick of Rapid River, a late addition to the game, was placed on the West roster to replace Kortemeier, scoring three points.

“The boys did the little things it took to win and played well together; especially having put the eight of them together and only having this morning to be around one another. They played great, and I am happy for them,” Zawacki stated. “Our boys played physical, and we gave Nelson all he could handle despite him scoring 40 points.”

Both coaches were very appreciative of organizers, who put the game together on such short notice.

West 33 63 — 96

East 50 53 — 103

WEST: Nathan Thomson 5, Mason Kudlick 3, Lincoln Sager 12, Ian Gorzinski 7, Beau Koffman 7, Ty Lotterman 19, Justin Nelson 40, Eli Luokkala 3; FT: 17-27 F: 21; Fouled Out: Luokkala; 3-Point FG: Thomson, Kudlick, Gorzinzki, Koffman 2, Lotterman; Nelson 5.

EAST: Logan DePew 21, Brandon Frazer 17, Caleb Kohlman 8, Nick Javurek 13, Micah Bailey 6; Trenton Wood-Keshick 19, Carter Zawacki 3, Joey Stein 16; FT: 24-32; F: 22; Fouled Out: Zawacki; 3–Point FG: DePew 4, Frazer 3, Javurek, Bailey, Stein, Zawacki.